Platelet arachidonate cascade of migraineurs in the interictal phase

Morphological and functional alterations of platelets in migraineurs may be linked to the development of migraine. We examined the eicosanoid synthesi s of platelets of untreated female migraineurs in a headache-free period an d compared it to that of age- and blood group-matched healthy female volunt eers. In the platelets of headache-free migraineurs significantly less amou nts of anti-aggregatory prostaglandin D-2 and prostacyclin, as well as of 1 2-L-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid (a potent endogenous inducer of e ndothelial prostacyclin production) were produced, while the synthesis of p latelet aggregatory thromboxane did not differ when compared to that of hea lthy women. These results suggest that the platelet eicosanoids of migraine urs in the headache-free period might promote the development of cellular, vascular and neurological events inducing headache.